Manually operated valve for sprinkler head

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION IS A MANUALLY OPERATED VALVE ADAPTED TO CERTAIN TYPES OF RECESSED AND EXPOSED TYPES OF SPRINKLER HEADS AND HAS AS ITS PURPOSE THE MANUALLY SHUTTING OFF OF THE FLOW OF WATER OR OTHER LIQUID THROUGH THE HEAD. THE INVETION CONSISTS OF AN L-SHAPED PIECE OF STEEL TUBING IN WHICH IS LOCATED A STEEL BAR THAT IT ALSO L-SHAPED. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SHORT END OF THE AFORESAID STEEL TUBING IS REMOVED IN ORDER TO PERMIT THE STEEL BAR, WHICH IS INSERTED IN THE STEEL TUBING, TO BE PUSHED OR PULLED IN OR OUT OF THE TUBING BY MEANS OF A MANUALLY OPERATED SCREW, AS WILL HEREINAFTER BE DESCRIBED. THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE SHORT END OF THE STEEL TUBE IS CONFIGURATED TO FIT THE TIP OF A SPRINKLER HEAD WHEN THIS INVENTION IS ADAPTED TO THE SAME. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SHORT END OF THE STEEL BAR IS PROVIDED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE GATE THAT FITS IN THE ORIFICE OF THE SPRINKLER HEAD. A DIMPLE IN ONE SIDE OF THE SHORT END OF THE STEEL TUBING ENGAGES IN THE RECESS IN ONE SIDE OF THE SHORT END OF THE STEEL BAR WHN THE VALVE IS OPENED, THUS LOCKING THE VALVE IN THE DESIRED OPEN POSITION.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Andrew Wilson Butts 3125 8.13. 140th Ave., Portland, Oreg. 97236 [21] Appl. No. 843,146 [22] Filed July 18, 1969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [54] MANUALLY OPERATED VALVE FOR SPRINKLER HEAD 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 239/569, 169/37, 251/147 [51] Int. Cl B05b H30 [50] Field of Search 239/578, 581 (X), 579, 506, 569; 169/37 (X), 38; 251/147 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 403,475 5/1889 Kister 239/506X lllll lll llllllllll ll Primary Examiner-Lloyd L, King ABSTRACT: This invention is a manually operated valve adapted to certain types of recessed and exposed types of sprinkler heads and has as its purpose the manually shutting off of the flow of water or other liquid through the head. The invention consists of an L-shaped piece of steel tubing in which is located a steel bar that is also L-shaped. The underside of the short end of the aforesaid steel tubing is removed in order to permit the steel bar, which is inserted in the steel tubing, to be pushed or pulled in or out of the tubing by means of a manually operated screw, as will hereinafter be described. The upper surface of the short end of the steel tube is configurated to fit the tip of a sprinkler head when this inventionis adapted to the same. The underside of the short end of the steel bar is provided with an adjustable gate that fits in the orifree of the sprinkler head. A dimple in one side of the short end of the steel tubing engages in the recess in one side of the short end of the steel bar when the valve is opened, thus locking the valve in the desired open position.

PATENTEnJunzslsn 3587879 INVENTOR ANDREW WILSON BUTTS MANUALLY OPERATED VALVE FOR SPRINKLER HEAD This invention relates to both controls, and to sprinkler heads. Sprinkler heads are a form of valves that are defined as outlets in a sprinkler system. Some sprinkler heads are used to protect buildings from fires while other sprinkler heads are adapted to sprinkler systems designed to water lawns and the like.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a manually operated valve for a sprinkler head, which l personally call a fire control sprinkler head stopper, that will permit one to shut off the water from any sprinkler head without affecting the rest of the sprinkler system.

Another object of this invention is to provide a manually operated valve for a sprinkler head that can be adapted to nearly any recessed and exposed sprinkler head without disturbing the installation of the head.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a manually operated valve for a sprinkler head, the valve being of the positive action type that does not require the use of any springs or the like.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will no doubt appear as the reading of this specification and appended claims proceeds and the accompanying drawing is examined.

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a pictorial view of this invention attached to a typical sprinkler head. Only the actual invention is drawn in solid black lines.

FIG. 2 is a side view of this invention ready for attachment to a sprinkler head.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the lower portion of this invention as indicated by the arrowed line and number 3 in FIG. 2.

In the several views of the accompanying drawing, like parts of this invention are indicated by like reference numbers.

The reference number 5 indicates this invention in its entirety.

This invention 5 consists of a piece of steel tubing 6 that is square in cross section and which has a nut 7 welded to the upper end thereof. The lower portion of the aforesaid tube 6 is bent or otherwise formed at nearly 90, thereby giving the tube the side configuration of a capital letter L. A solid steel bar 8, that is basically the same configuration as that of the aforesaid steel tubing 6, has its major portion located in the stem 9 of the just mentioned steel tubing 6. The aforesaid steel tubing 6 has its underside removed, as can be seen on examination of the three views of the accompanying drawing, in order to permit the assembly of the aforesaid steel tubing 6 and the steel bar 8. A threaded rod I0 has a handwheel ll of any desired configuration or type suitably secured to the upper end thereof by any desired means. The threaded rod is screwed down through the nut 7 to terminate in securement to the upper end of the aforesaid stem 9 of the steel bar 8 to complete the assembly of the major parts of this invention. A piece of round rubber l2, hereinafter called the gate and having the configuration of a half of a sphere, has one end of a metal screw 13 molded upright in the center thereof. A backing washer 14 is screwed onto the screw which is then itself screwed into the tapped opening 15 that is located in the short end 16 of the aforesaid steel bar 8 of this invention. The aforesaid washer 19 provides longitudinal adjustment of the aforesaid gate 12 of this invention.

The invention is assembled in the manner shown in the accompanying drawing. Here it is seen, on examination of FIG. I, that the tit 17 of the sprinkler head 18 fits down into the elongated recess 19, that is U-shaped in cross section, and that is located in the top surface of the short end of the previously mentioned piece of steel tubing 6. A dimple 20 is located in one side of the aforesaid short end of the steeltubing 6 to engage in the recess 21 of matched shape and size that is located in one side of the aforesaid short end 16 of the steel bar 8. The purpose of the aforesaid dimple 20 and the recess 21 is to provide a means of locking the short ends of the aforesaid steel tubing 6 and the steel bar 8 together when the handwheel 11 is so rotated as to draw the two ust described parts of this invention together.

The way in which this invention is used is self explanatory when one examines FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawing. It is obvious from the drawing that all one has to do to shut off the flow of water through the sprinkler head 18 is to rotate (tighten) the aforesaid handwheel I1 and thus cause the steel bar 8 to move downward. When this happens, the previously described gate 12 will be pressed and held down tight into the orifice 22 of the sprinkler head 18, thus stopping the flow of water or other liquid through the same. Turning, reversing the direction of rotation of the handwheel II, will release the pressure of the aforesaid gate 12 in the orifice 22 and thereby permit water or other liquid to flow through the same at the amount of flow desired by the operator of this invention.

It is to be understood that this invention is subject to any and all changes in detail design and/or modifications that one may care to make in so long as the changes and/or modifications fall within the scope and intent of the appended claims. Changes in size, configuration, material, and/or number of parts shall not effect this invention.

I claim:

I. A manually operated valve for sprinkler heads of the character described, comprising an L-shaped tube the underside of the short end of which is cut away; and an L-shaped bar slidably mounted in the said tube, the said bar being moved by manually operated mechanism adapted to the said valve; and structure adapted to the short end of the said bar to fit in the orifice of a sprinkler head when the said valve is adapted to the said sprinkler head for the purpose of shutting off the flow of water or other liquid that flows from the said orifice of the said sprinkler head; and means of locking the said valve in an open position when it is so desired.

2. The invention of claim I, wherein both the said tube and the said bar are square in cross section, and one end of the said tube is provided with a fixed nut in which is screwed a threaded rod that has its outer end provided with a handwheel and the other end of the same threaded rod being secured to one end of the said rod that is located in the said tube, thereby providing the manually operated mechanism for opening and closing the said valve.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the short end of the said tube is provided with an elongated recess that is U-shaped in cross section in order to receive the tit of a sprinkler head when this invention is adapted to the said sprinkler head.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein the underside of the outer end of the short end of the said bar is provided with a gate that has the configuration of a half of a sphere, the said gate has one end of a metal screw molded upright in the center thereof in order that the said gate may be screwed into a tapped opening in the said short end of the said bar, and the said screw is provided with a backing washer that permits the locking of the said gate at any desired distance from the said bar, as the said washer is screwed onto the said screw of the said gate mechanism.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein one side of the said short end of the said bar, which is made of steel, is provided with a dimple that engages in a recess that is located in the like side of the said short end of the said bar, which is likewise made of steel, the engagement taking place when it is desired to lock the said valve in an open position. 

